Roller skate attachment



' Jul y 30, 1946. c. w n- 2,405,000

I ROLLER SKATE ATTACHMENT Filed April 2, 1945 I INVENTOR.

Patented July 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLLER SKATE ATTACHMENT Clarence A. VVhited, Jenkins, Ky. Application April 2, 1945, Serial N 0. 586,059

6 Claims.

This invention relates to roller skates, the primary object of the invention being to provide a traction device attached to the skate in such a way that the traction device may be swung to a position beyond the rollers of the skate, to permit the person using the skate to walk over polished loors, and up or down steps, without danger oi slipping.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be attached to roller skates now in use, eliminating the necessity of making alterations in the usual skate structure, to mount the device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a. skate constructed in accordance with the invention, the attaching device being shown as in its extended position.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating one of the rollers and traction device mounted on the axle thereof.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the traction devices.

Figure 6 is a vertical roller of the skate.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the body portion of the skate is indicated by the reference naracter 5 and includes front and rear brackets B which support the axles I on which the wheels 8 are mounted.

Forming a part of each bracket 6, is an axle housing 9, the axle housings being of widths to space the wheels 8 on their axles.

The rollers, forming a part of the skate, are provided with tubular sections 1B formed with annula flanges H at their ends, the flanges ll acting to hold the roller sections l2 in place, the sections l2 being provided with the usual ball bearings l3.

The traction device, forming the subject matter of the present invention, comprises a holder embodying a metal plate constructed to provide a main plate l4 stamped out of a length of sheet sectional view through a metal material in such a way as to provide flanges 15 along its longitudinal edges, the flanges l5 being inclined inwardly toward each other, to grip the traction pad 56, which may be in the form of a leather or rubber block.

The ends of the main plate l4 are extended upwardly at right angles, and provide ears H, which are formed with openings to receive the washers I8 and I9, which washers are mounted on the axle 'i, at opposite ends thereof, the washers contacting the ends of the axle housing 9. It is therefore obvious that when the rollers are positioned and the nuts 20 at the ends of the axle are tightened, the tubular hub sections will be tightened against the washers to secure the washers in their proper positions on the axles, and this tightening of the nut 29 will not in any way eifect the free rotary movement of the rollers on their hubs.

Spaced notches 2| and 22 are formed in the washer l8 mounted on each axle, th'e notches being designed to receive the pivoted latch arm 23 which is secured to the main plate M of the traction pad housing. The pivoted latch arm is constructed of yieldable metal, so that the natural tendency of the latch member is to move into engagement with the washer associated therewith. A notch 24 is formed in the ear I! in which the Washer 18 is positioned, so that the latch member may be moved into the notch 24 to permit the latch arm 23 to clear the washer [8 when it is desired to rotate the traction pad housing to move it to its active or inactive position.

A laterally extended finger piece 25 is formed on the pivoted latch arm 23, and affords means whereby the latch arm may be moved from its position within a notch of the washer Hi to release the traction pad housing for pivotal move ment.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, the traction pad housings may be moved to their active positions as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawing, where they extend beyond the rollers of the skate so that the person using the skate may walk on polished floors, or steps, without danger of slipping.

When it is desired to use the skate in skating, the traction pad housings may be swung to the positions shown by Fig. 3 of the drawing where they are out of the way, allowing free use of the rollers.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a roller skate including an axle, an axle housing and rollers mounted on the axle, said rollers including stationary hubs around which the rollers operate, of a traction device embodying a housing having openings, washers fitted within the openings and being mounted on the axle, said traction device adapted to pivot around the washers, said washers being clamped between the ends of the axle housing and stationary hubs of the rollers, one of the washers having notches, a latch member mounted on the traction device and adapted to move into eithernotch, securing the traction device in either its active or inactive position.

2. The combination with a roller skate including an axle, an axle housing and rollers mounted on the axle, said rollers including stationary hubs around which the rollers operate, of a traction device embodying a traction pad housing, stationary washers mounted on the axle and being clamped between the ends of the axle housing and roller hubs, means for pivotally mounting the traction pad housing on the washers, and means for securing the traction pad housing, against movement around the washers, whereby the traction pad housing is held in either its active or inactive position, and a traction pad carried by the traction pad housing,

3. The combination with a roller skate including an axle, an axle housing and rollers mounted on the axle, of a traction device including removable washers having notches, secured against movement on the axle, a traction pad housing mounted for rotary movement around the washers, said washers having notches and a latch member mounted on the housing and adapted to move into the notches, securing the housing in various positions of adjustment around the washers.

4. The combination with a roller skate including an axle, an axle housing and rollers mounted on the axle, of a traction device including removable washers secured to the ends of the axle housing, a traction pad housing mounted for pivotal movement around the washers, means for securing one of the washers and traction pad housing together, whereby said traction pad housing is held in either its active or inactive position, and a traction pad mounted in the traction pad housing.

5. The combination with a roller skate including an axle, a tubular housing and rollers having hubs mounted on the axle, of a traction device including removable washers mounted on the axle and being secured between the ends of the tubular housing and hubs of the rollers, a traction pad housing, ears having openings, extending from the traction pad housing, said washers adapted to be positioned in the openings of said ears, a latch member mounted on the traction pad housing and adapted to engage the bearing member at one end of the axle, securing the traction pad housing in various positions of adjustment.

6. The combination with a roller skate including an axle, a tubular axle housing and rollers mounted on the axle, of a traction device including removable members mounted on the axle at the ends of the tubular housing, a traction D si g including a member pivotally mounted on the first mentioned members, and a latch member carried by the traction pad housing for securing the traction pad housing and removable members together against movement with respect to each other, and a traction pad carried by said traction pad housing.

CLARENCE A. WHITED. 

